Lubricating composition and modified addition agent therefor



the neutralizationstep is not clear.

Patented Sept. 8, 1942- LUBBICATING COMPOSITION AND MODI- FIED ADDITION AGENT THEREFOR Clarence M. Loane, Hammond, Ind., assignor to Standard Oil Company, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Indiana NorDrawing. Application October 26, 1940, Serial No. 363,025

19 Claims.

The present invention relates to lubricating oils containing addition agents for use in automotive engines, and to methods for modifying certain addition agents sothat their undesirable qualities may be removed, thereby gaining the full benefit of the desirable qualities.

An object of the present invention is to improve the properties of the oils by modifying the addition agents ither before addition to the lubricant or in situ.

More particularly the present invention relates to such addition agents as phosphatides and commercial mixtures of the same. The former include, for example, lecithin and cephalin. while the latter usually comprises a mixture of the two along with residual fatty oil and free fatty acids. The commercial products frequently contain about 65%. phosphatides, based on phosphorus content, and about 35% of fatty 011 plus fatty acid; Whenever the term phosphatides appears herein it is to be understood that not only the pure compounds such as lecithin and cephalin, but also the commercial mixtures of lecithin, cephalin, oil, etc. are intended.

It is known that theaddition of phosphatides to oils improves the quality thereof by preventing ring sticking and by acting as detergents and antioxidants. It .has been found, however, that while certain qualities of the lubricant are improved by these addition agents, certain other undesirable properties appear. In the case of the phosphatides it has been found that early sludge is often formed and that certain metal alloy bearing surfaces are corroded, particularly lead-containing bearings. These adverse effects are believed to be caused by the acidic properties of the phosphatides, or the fatty oils occurrin in the commercial mixture of phosphatides.

In order to overcome the above-mentioned undesirable effects of the phosphatides they may be neutralized. After such treatment the modified phosphatides are better suited for use as addition agents to lubricating oils.

The exact nature of the reactions involved in The fact that the unmodified phosphatides cause corrosion of various metal alloy bearing surfaces is probably due to the fact that the phosphatides exhibit acidic properties. The neutralization may be carried out by various neutralizing agents such as ammonia or by the use of amines, including the alkylamines, the alkylol amines and aromatic amines such as pyridine, quinoline and their derivatives. It is believed that the ammonium or amine salts of the commercial phosphatides are formed. The amount of or-' ganic base used in the neutralization may be varied from 50% to 100%, or even an excess of organic base, ranging up to 200% of the acidity of the phosphatlde, may be used.

In order to facilitate handling of the phosphatide during the neutralization step it is sometimes desirable to dilute the phosphatidic material with mineral oil, preferably in the proportion of 1 part material to 1 part or more of mineral oil. g

The phosphatides ar neutralized simply by mixing them with one of the aforementioned neutralizing agents for several hours either at room temperature or at temperatures from F. to about 300 F. If desired, the phosphatide or neutralizing agent may be added to the oil first and then the other added so the reaction will take place in situ.

While ammonia, ammonium hydroxide, pyridine or pyridine derivatives may be used, it is preferred to use an organic base such as the tetra alkyl ammonium hydroxides, hydroxylamines, primary, secondary and tertiary amines or the amines prepared from various oils such as cocoanut oil. The amines may have the following general formulae RANCH, RaN, RzNH, RNHz, (OHRMN, RNHR or R'NRz wherein Rand R represent an alkyl, alkylene, aryl, or aralkyl radioal.

have been found to be satisfactory.

After the phosphatidic material has been-neutralized, a small quantity, preferably from about 0.01% to about 5% is added to the oil with the result that the oxidation stability and the detergent properties of the oil are improved, at least as sullurized olefin polymers. organic phosphites, etc. to the oil.

I claim:

1. A process for neutralizing phosphatides to improve their value as addition agents for lubricants comprising treating the phosphatide with 3. A process for neutralizing phosphatides to improve their value as addition agents for lubricants comprising treating the phosphatide with an amine at temperatures below about 300 F.

4. An addition agent (or lubricants comprising the reaction product of a phosphatidic material and an organic amine at temperatures below about 300 F; I I

5. An addition agent for lubricants comprising the reaction product of a phosphatidic material and an alkyl amine at temperatures below about 300 F.

6. An addition agent for lubricants comprising the reaction product of a phosphatidic material and an aromatic amine at temperatures below about 300 F.

'7. An addition agent for lubricants comprising the reaction product of a phosphatidic material -and an alkylolamine at temperatures below about 8. An addition agent for lubricants as claimed in claim 4 wherein the phosphatidic material comprises lecithin and cephalin.

9. An addition agent for lubricants as claimed terial and an alkyl amine at temperatures below about 300 F.

13. A lubricant comprising a lubricating oil and the reaction product of a phosphatidic material and an aromatic amine at temperatures below about 300 F.

14. A lubricant comprising a lubricating oil and the reaction product of a phosphatidic material and an alkylolamine at temperatures below about 300 F.

in claim 4 wherein the phosphatidic material comprises lecithin.

10. An addition agent for lubricants as 15. A lubricant comprising a lubricating oil and from about 0.01% to about 5% of the reaction product of a hosphatidic material and an osganic amine at temperatures below about 3 0 F.

16. An addition agent for lubricants comprising the reaction product of a phosphatidic material and an organic amine at temperatures within the approximate range of F. to 300 F.

1'7. An addition agent for lubricants comprising the reaction product of a phosphatidic material and an alkyl amine at temperatures within the approximate range of 90 F. to 300 F.

18. An addition agent for lubricants comprising the reaction product of a phosphatidic material and an aromatic amine at temperatures within the approximate range of 90 F. to 300 F.

19. An addition agent for lubricants comprising the reaction product oi a phosphatidic material and an alkylolamineat temperatures within the approximate range of 90 F. to 300 F.

CLAREIICE M. LOANE. 

